Fray Junipero Serra was born on the island of Majorca, one of the Balearic Islands off the coast of Spain. He attended school and seminary in Palma de Majorca, the capital. He joined the Franciscan Order and in 1737, was ordained a priest, eventually becoming a professor of theology. The Franciscan mission to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ led him to dedicate his life to the Native American peoples of New Spain, arriving in Mexico in 1749. Fray Junipero Serra walked from Vera Cruz to Mexico City. Fray Junipero first worked among the people of the Sierra Gorda region in central Mexico, then among the indigenous people in Baja California. He then went to Alta California establishing missions for the Native American people. This last effort began with the founding of Mission San Diego in 1769 and ended with the establishment of San Buenaventura Mission in 1782. Father Serra died in 1784 and is buried at Mission San Carlos Bormeo in Carmel. Fray Junipero Serra's dream of bringing the Christian faith to the Indians continued until 21 missions were built in California. His personal motto was "Siempre Adelante" - Always Forward. Pope John Paul beatified Fray Junipero Serra on September 25, 1988. The cause for Serra's canonization is pending. Today San Buenaventura Mission continues the spiritual legacy of Blessed Junipero Serra as an active Christian community.
